Latest news strengthens argument that Miami Dolphins hit a home run in the 2024 NFL Draft
The Miami Dolphins have not been strong on their offensive line, to put it mildly, and fans have lamented the missed opportunities to upgrade the position, particularly during last offseason. In the draft, the Dolphins took tackle Patrick Paul in the second round and no other lineman despite several holes to fill. However, what the […]
The Miami Dolphins have not been strong on their offensive line, to put it mildly, and fans have lamented the missed opportunities to upgrade the position, particularly during last offseason. In the draft, the Dolphins took tackle Patrick Paul in the second round and no other lineman despite several holes to fill.
However, what the Dolphins actually did in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft turned out to be a stroke of genius, particularly given the roster constraints at the time. That, and how well their pick turned out after his rookie season.
Former Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson was named by the AP as a finalist for their Defensive Rookie of the Year award on Thursday.
Robinson, who the Dolphins took with the 21st overall selection in last year's draft, helped serve a dire need for the Dolphins after the unfortunate events late in the 2023 season that saw both of their starting edge rushers' seasons end prematurely. There was hope that one or both of Jalean Phillips (Achilles) and/or Bradley Chubb (knee) would return early in the 2024 season, if not at the start of it. However, the Dolphins needed a contingency plan in case one or both didn't return, so Robinson was a logical pick.
As it turned out, Phillips would go down again with another season-ending injury in Week 4, this time with an ACL tear. Chubb was unable to return this season despite returning to the practice field in December. As such, Robinson's presence turned out to be crucial in 2024.
And, while there were certainly some growing pains, Robinson came into his own in the second half of the season. Over a three-game winning streak against the Rams, Patriots, and Raiders, Robinson's potential was on full display. He had 22 total pressures and 3 sacks over that stretch. For the season, he had 56 pressures in 344 pass rushing snaps for an outstanding 16.3% pressure rate, finishing with 6 sacks.
The Dolphins have plenty to fix moving forward. However, they have a young star in the making at one of the biggest premium positions in the NFL. Hard to hate that.